Remote control automobile engine starting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Remote control automobile engine starting apparatus having a remote control panel, an electrically energized solenoid having a plunger connected to throttle linkage of the engine carburetor for increasing fuel flow, circuitry including relays energized by manually operated switches on the control panel for connecting the automobile battery to the engine ignition coil and a starting motor solenoid switch, and a vacuum operated switch responsive to changes in air pressure in the carburetor intake for opening circuitry between the battery and the starting motor solenoid switch when the engine is started.

e [22] Filed:

United'States Patent [191 Liang REMOTE CONTROL AUTOMOBILE ENGINESTARTING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: George H. K. Liang, 526 East 16thAvenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Oct. 12, 1971 [21] Appl.No.': 188,075

s2 U.S.Cl.. ..290/38, 290/37 51 Int, Cl. ..H02p 9/04 58 Field of Search..290/36, 37, 3s, 38 L [56] References Cited A UNITED STATES PATENTS3,455,403 7/1969 Hawthome ..290/38 3,041,463 6/1962 Huron et a1......290/38 3,163,770 12/1964 Smedley ..290/38 3,130,318 4/1964 Curtis.....290/38 3,633,040 1/1972 Baxter ..290/38 [451 Apr. 10, 19733,553,472 l/197l Arlandson ..290/38 3,078,834 2/1963 Wright....290/DIG.3

3,053,989 9/1962 Poole et al ..290 /DlG. 3

Primary Examiner-G. R. Simmons Attorney-Brian J. Wood ABSTRACT Remotecontrol automobile engine starting apparatus having a remote controlpanel, an electrically energized solenoid having a plunger connected tothrottle linkage of the engine carburetor for increasing fuel flow,circuitry including relays energized by manually operated switches onthe control panel for connecting the automobile battery to the engineignition coil and a starting motor solenoid switch, and a vacuumoperated switch responsive to changes in air pressure in the carburetorintake for opening circuitry between the battery and the starting motorsolenoid switch when the engine is started.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing figures sum 1 UF2 S a w a 5:535

\WN \WNJI I W I E N I I'll PATENTEDAPR 1 01m Aim Mwlllllllllll'llllllllllllll PATEHTEBAPR 1 01975 sum 2 HF 2 a 9 A? 9 0 0 wj a f 7/ 3 5 a M m m2 m 7 0 6 77 3? Mg 96/.9M// 8mm y e G. Trorey AgentREMOTE CONTROL AUTOMOBILE ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I The invention relates tooperational circuitry arrangement for starting an internal combustionengine from a location remote from the automobile.

2. Prior Art v Internal combustion enginessuch as those used inautomotive vehicles require an initial warming up perion for optimumoperating effectiveness. Engine warm-up is particularly important wherethe vehicles are subject to extremely low'temperatures so as to avoidengine malfunction and to enable engine oil to warm-up sufficiently toprovide adequate lubrication before thejengine is loaded.

Due to the inconvenience of having to sit in the automobile while theengine warms to operating temperature an operator usually starts hisengine then returns shown in FIG. 2,

to his house or otherwarm area to wait until the engine has warmed to anoperating temperature. The engine may stop after the operator has leftthe vehicle and further, vehicles have frequently been stolen in thesecircumstances.

Remote controlmechanisms have heretofore been devised and are used toenable an operator to start his vehicle engine from a remote location,for instance J from his house, so that the engine is warm before theoperator actually enters the vehicle. Many such mechanisms use sourcesof, power extraneous of the vehicle battery itself and thus are not ofany use where extraneous sources of power are not available. Othermechanisms require that the automobile ignition switch be closed' beforestarting thus making the vehicle available to unauthorized individuals.

SUMMARY oF THE INVENTION The present invention provides apparatus forstarting and stopping vehicle engines remote from the automobile itselfwhich doesnot require that the-automobile ignition switch be on andwhich does not require a source of power extraneous to the automobilebattery.

'The apparatus of the present invention further, includes indicatorsremote from the vehicle which give visual indication of engineand stateof oil pressure.

In the present invention, ignition starting and carbua switch at aremote location so as to inject fuel into the carburetor and set thechoke and fast idle.

A detailed description following related to drawings, givesexemplification of apparatus according to the invention which, however,is capable of expression in means other than those particularlydescribed and illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an automobileengine and some ancillaries according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows apparatus and circuitry according to the inventionconnectable to conventional automobile ignition and starting circuitry,

FIG. 3 is a section of a vacuum FIG. 4 shows choke control linkage formanual choke carburetors,

FIG. 5 is acentral section of a delay mechanism of the choke controllinkage shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 and 2 FIG. 1 shows an internal combustionautomobile engine 5 having an automatic choke carburetor 6 and throttlelinkage, generally 7 which, conventionally, includes a fast idle cam,not shown.

A storage'battery 10, FIG. 2, having a main lead 10.1

and grounded at 11 is connected through a wire 12 and a starter solenoidswitch 13 to a starter motor 14. The starter solenoid switch is normallyopen and is closed through operation of a convention key controlledignition switch 15 closure of which establishes, through wire 16 and 17,a circuit between the starter switch solenoid and the battery. Closureof the ignition switch alsoestablishes, through a wire 18, circuitconnection between the battery and an ignition coil 19, the coil beingconnected to a distributor 21 through a wire 22. Closure of the ignitionswitch also establishes a circuit, through a wire 23, between thebattery and a heater blower motorf24 when a blower motor switch 24.1 isclosed. I

The apparatus and circuitry of the invention, generally 30, includes aremote control panel 31 which has be located in a house or other warmstructure and which has a panel terminal block 32 having terminals 33,34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 connectable through a suitable six wire cable 39and plug and socket assembly 41 to a terminal block 42 suitably mountedin the engine compartment of the automobile. The terminal block 42 hasterminals 33.1, 34.1, 35.1, 36.1, 37.1, and 38.1 which correspond to theterminals 33 through 38.

The circuitry of the invention includes, essentially, five circuits, asfollows: (A) ignition circuit, (B) carburetor control circuit, (C)starting circuit, (D) first engine operating monitor circuit, (E) secondoil pressure monitoring circuit.

A. Ignition Circuit The coil '19 is connected to the battery main lead10.1 through a wire 42.1 and a relay 43 having a first normally opencontact point pair 43.1. The relay 43 has a solenoid 45 which whenenergized by closure of a first switch 46 on the panel 31, closes thecontact point pair 43.1,the switch being spring biased to a normallyopen position.

The switch'46 has a pivoted switch arm 47 having ON and OFF buttons 46.1and 46.2 at opposite ends operable to open and close a pair of contacts47.1 and 47.2. The contact 47.1 is connected through a wire 48, thencethrough the terminals 33 and 33.1 and a wire 49, to the battery mainlead 10.1. The contact 47.2 is connected to an electromagnet 52, whichis located operated switch beneath the arm 47, thence through wires 53and 54 through .to'the solenoid 45 of the relay 43, thence to ground sothat when the switch 46 is closed both the electromagnet 52 and thesolenoid 45 of the relay 43 are energized thusestablishing current flowfrom the battery to the'coil.

tery main lead 10.1.-

B. Carburetor Control Circuit I The carburetor control circuit includesa grounded solenoid 57 which is connected through a wire 58 and a relay59 to the battery main'lead 10.1, the relay 59 havinga contact pointpair 61 and a grounded solenoid 62,

A spring 93 fits under compression between the washer 92 and the plate85. An outer end portion 95 of the tube is reduced to provide a spigotfor connection to a flexible hose 96 which has a connection, See FIG. 1,to the carburetor intake, so that pressure drop in the car-.

' bureto'r, when the engine starts, results in correspondthe solenoid 62being connected through a wire 63, the I terminals 34.1 and 34, thencethrough 'a wire 64 and a lead 65 to the contact 47.2. Circuit betweenthe battery through the solenoid 62 is established by operation of apushbutton second switch 64.1in the wire 64, the push- .button switch64.1 being normally spring biased to an open'position.

The solenoid 57 has a spring return plunger66 which is connected by acable 67 to the throttle linkage of the carburetor. Movementof theplunger, when the solenoid 57 is energized, applies tension to the cable67 so as to open the carburetor throttle, close the carburetor choke andset the fast idle cam. C. Starting Circuit The-starter solenoid switch13 is connected in circuit to the battery main lead 10.1 through a relay71 and a wire 72, the relay 71 havinga contact pointpair 73-and asolenoid '74. The -.wire 72 is connected through-a gear shift cut-offstarted switch 74.1 which, commonly is installed in automobiles havingautomatic transmissions, permitsengine starting only when thetransmission is in park or in neutral. The solenoid 74 is energized byclosure of a pushbutton third switch 75 on the remote control panel, theswitch 75, like the switch 64.1,being springbiased to a normal. openposition. The switch 75 is connected through a wire 76 to the lead 65,thence through terminals 37 and 37.1, through a wire 77 connected to thesolenoid 74 and thence, through a normally, closed vacuum operatedswitch 78 which opens in response to pressure drop in the carburetorwhen the engine starts, to ground at 79. FIG. 3, I

' The switch 78, which is mounted on the automobile, has a chamber 81closed at one end 82 by a flexible diaphragm 83 and closed. at anopposite end by a wall 84. The diaphragm. has a central plate 85 whichcarries an operating shaft 86, the shaft projecting through a stop plate86.1. An exteriorly threaded tube 87.projects into the chamber through athreaded passage-88 in the wall 84. The tube can be adjustedlongitudinally of the chamber and locked by a lock nut 89. The tube hasa reduced inner end portion 91 for receiving a washer 92.

ing pressure drop in the chamber 81. I I I The switch operating shafthas a notch 98 which receives a free end 99 of a movable spring contactelement 101 having contact points 101.1 and 101.2 at one end, anopposite end 102 of the element 101 being fixed in an insulator block103 and grounded at 79. A

pair of spring contact elements 106 and 107 having contact points 108and 109 extend from the insulator block 103 parallel to, and on oppositesides of, the contact element 101. The contact element 106, see alsoFIG. 1, is connected to the wire 77 and the contact element.107 isconnected to a wire 111, the purpose of which is described later. I

With the chamber 81 under atmospheric pressure the spring93 normallyurges the plate against the stop plate 86.1, the contact points 101.1and 108 then being closedand the contact points 101.2 and 109 I beingopen. When the engine starts, drop in pressure in the carburetor intakeand corresponding drop in pressure in the chamber 81, results in inwarddeflection of the diaphragm away from the stop plate 86.1, the shaftmoving the contact element 101 to a position in-which the contact points101.1 and 108 are opened and the contact points 101.2 and 109 areclosed-Pressure of the spring 93 can be varied by longitudinaladjustment of the tube 87 so that action of the switch can be adjustedto operating characteristics of most carburetors.

D. First Engine Operating Monitoring Circuit The first monitoringcircuit, FIG. 1, includes an indicator light on the remote control panelwhich is connected to lead 65 through a wire 116 thence through theterminals 36 and 36.1 and through the wire 111- and thecontact elements101.2 and 109 (when closed) of the vacuum operated switch 78 to groundat .79. The light 115, it is seen, glows only when the'contact points101.2 and 109 are closed to indicate the en'- gine is running. E. OilPressure Monitoring Circuit I The oil pressure monitoring circuitincludes an indicator light 117 which is connected to the lead 65through a wire. 118 thence through the terminals 38 and 38.1.and througha wire 119 which is connected through a conventional oil pressureresponsive switch 121 to groundat 122. The oil pressure switch 121 isnormally closed and opens when engine oil pressure exceeds apredetermined value.

OPERATION When an automobile operator stores his automobile for thenight he connects the automobile. and the remote panel by joining theplug and socket assembly 41. As the switch 46 is normally openallcircuits are also open.

In the morning the operator presses the'ON button 46.1 of the switch 46so as to establish current flow from the battery to the coil 19 and, ifswitch 24.1 is closed, to the heater blower motor. He then, momentarily,closes the switch 64.1 which energizes the solenoid 57, movement of theplunger opening the throttle,

closing the carburetor choke and Setting the fast idle. He then pressesthe pushbutton 75 so as to close the starter solenoid switch 13 thusengaging the starter motor 14 and the engine. 3 I

Whenthe engine starts pressure drop in the carburetor intake results inopening of the contact points 101.1 and 108 and closure of the contactpoints 101.2 and 109 of the vacuum operated switch. This breaks thestarting circuit which results in disengagement of the starter motor andthe engine and at the same time establishes the circuit throughindicator light 115. In theevent of faltering of the engine, whichcauses air pressure variation in the carburetor intake and flickering ofthe indicator light 1 15, the operator can increase fuel flow to thecarburetor by momentarily closing the switch 64.1.

Malfunction of the engine lubricating system, which results in drop inoil pressure, is evidenced by glowing of the indicator light 117. Ifthis should happen the operator can break all circuits and shut off hisengine by pressing the OFF button 46.2 of the switch 46.

It is seen that all circuits bypass the ignition switch 15 which canremain open so that the ignition switch key can be removed from theignition switch and the automobile doors locked, thus minimizing chanceof theft of the automobile.

ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and'S FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 showadoption of the remote control starting apparatus for an automobilehaving a carburetor provided with a conventional manual choke operatedby known control means. The carburetor is not shown in detail asconstruction thereof is well known.

The solenoid plunger 66 is connected by a cable 131, FIGS. 1, 2, and 4,to choke control linkage, not shown, of the carburetorso that when thesolenoid 57 is energized movement of the plunger 66 closes the choke. v

' The plunger 66 has an operating rod 132, FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, which isconnected, FIG. 4, to one end 133 of a lever 134 which is mounted forpivoted movement on a bracket arm 135. An opposite end 136 of the leveris connected to a delay unit 137 which, when the solenoid 57 isde-energized, delays return of the choke to an open position in a mannersimilar to choke operation of an automatic choke carburetor.

FIG. 5

The delay unit 137 has a fluid reservoir 138 having a large diameterport 140 opening into one end 141 of a passage 142 of a valve body 143.A housing 144 having opposite spaced side walls 145 and 146 is securedto the valve body at an opposite end 141.1 of the passage. The housingis divided by a flexible diaphragm 147 and the passage 142 opens intothe housing through a port 148 in the wall 145 so that fluid from thereservoir 138 can flow into a chamber 149 provided between the wall 145and thediaphragm 147. A check valve 151 is the passage 142 is normallymaintained against a seat 152 by a compression spring 153 bearingagainst the wall 145 to prevent return of oil through the port 140.

The diaphragm 147 has a central stiffening plate 154. A rod 155 extendsfrom the plate 154, through the wall 146 of the housing and has apivotal connection at an outer end 156 with the end 136 of the lever134, see

also FIG. 4. A compression spring 157 extending between the wall 146 andthe plate 154 normally urges the plate 154 against the wall of thehousing.

The valve body 143 has a bypass passage 161 ported at one end 162 intothe opposite end 163 into the passage 142. Fluid flow through thepassage 16] is regulated by a needle valve 164.

It is seen that with the use of the delay unit when the solenoid 57 isenergized movement of the plunger 66 opens the throttle and closes thechoke, and at the same time fluid is drawn into the chamber 149 as thediaphragm is moved away from the chamber wall 145. Movement of thediaphragm away from the wall 145 is rapid as the fluid can pass freelythrough the large diameter port 140. Return movement of the diaphragm,however, is retarded as fluid can return to the reservoir only throughthe passage 151, rate of flow being regulated by the needle valve tosuit operational characteristics of the engine.

I claim:

1. A remote control starting apparatus for an automobile engine having acarburetor with controls for increasing fuel delivery and choking, astorage battery, an ignition system having a coil, a starter motorhaving a starter solenoid switch for connecting the starter motor andthe battery, the apparatus including:

a. a remote control panel having normally open first,

second, and third switches,

a normally open circuit connecting the battery and the coil adapted tobe closed by operation of a first relay connected to the battery throughthe first switch,

. a solenoid having a plunger connected to the carburetor fuel controls,the solenoid being adapted to be energized by the battery by operationof a second relay connected to the battery through the second switch onthe remote panel so as to increase fuel delivery to the carburetor,

d. a normally open starter circuit connecting the starter solenoidswitch and the battery adapted to be closed by operation of a thirdrelay connected to the battery through the third switch on the remotecontrol panel for connecting the starter motor and the battery,

e. an indicator light on the panel connected to the battery in anormally opened first monitoring circuit,

f. a normally closed vacuum-operated switch in circuit with the thirdrelay and in the first monitoring circuit responsive to development ofvacuum in the carburetor to open the starter circuit when the enginestarts so as to disengage the starter motor and the battery and to closethe first monitoring circuit when the engine starts for providing visualevidence of engine start, said vacuum-operated switch including;

a chamber communicating with the carburetor intake,

a flexible diaphragm closing one end of the chamber and being movableinwards and outwards of the chamber in response to variations in airpressure in the chamber,

a spring normally urging the flexible diaphragm in a direction outwardsof the chamber,

an operating shaft connected at one end to the diaphragm for movementtherewith,

' v a grounded contact element engaged with the operating shaft formovement therewith,

' a pair of contact elements one being connected in circuit with thethird relay and the other being connected to the indicator light throughthe first monitoring circuit disposed on opposite sides of the groundedcontact element, disposed so that the starting circuit is normallyclosed and opens only when the engine starts and the firstmonitoring'circuit is normally open and is closed only whenthe enginestarts. v y

g 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the automobile having a manuallyoperated choke, the apparatus including linkage connecting the solenoidplunger and the choke for closing the choke when the solenoid isenergized and means for retarding movement of the solenoid under theaction of its spring when the solenoid is de-energized so as to delaymovement of the choke from a closed to an open position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the means for retardingmovement 'of the solenoid when de-energized includes a chamber closed atone end by a diaphragm, an operating rod connecting the diaphragm to thesolenoid plunger, a hydraulic reservoir provided with 'a large port intothe chamber enabling rapid flow of oil into the chamber when thediaphragm is moved

1. A remote control starting apparatus for an automobile engine having acarburetor with controls for increasing fuel delivery and choking, astorage battery, an ignition system having a coil, a starter motorhaving a starter solenoid switch for connecting the starter motor andthe battery, the apparatus including: a. a remote control panel havingnormally open first, second, and third switches, b. a normally opencircuit connecting the battery and the coil adapted to be closed byoperation of a first relay connected to the battery through the firstswitch, c. a solenoid having a plunger connected to the carburetor fuelcontrols, the solenoid being adapted to be energized by the battery byoperation of a second relay connected to the battery through the secondswitch on the remote panel so as to increase fuel delivery to thecarburetor, d. a normally open starter circuit connecting the startersolenoid switch and the battery adapted to be closed by operation of athird relay connected to the battery through the third switch on theremote control panel for connecting the starter motor and the battery,e. an indicator light on the panel connected to the battery in anormally opened first monitoring circuit, f. a normally closedvacuum-operated switch in circuit with the third relay and in the firstmonitoring circuit responsive to development of vacuum in the carburetorto open the starter circuit when the engine starts so as to disengagethe starter motor and the battery and to close the first monitoringcircuit when the engine starts for providing visual evidence of enginestart, said vacuum-operated switch including; a chamber communicatingwith the carburetor intake, a flexible diaphragm closing one end of thechamber and being movable inwards and outwards of the chamber inresponse to variations in air pressure in the chamber, a spring normallyurging the flexible diaphragm in a direction outwards of the chamber, anoperating shaft connected at one end to the diaphragm for movemEnttherewith, a grounded contact element engaged with the operating shaftfor movement therewith, a pair of contact elements one being connectedin circuit with the third relay and the other being connected to theindicator light through the first monitoring circuit disposed onopposite sides of the grounded contact element, disposed so that thestarting circuit is normally closed and opens only when the enginestarts and the first monitoring circuit is normally open and is closedonly when the engine starts.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, theautomobile having a manually operated choke, the apparatus includinglinkage connecting the solenoid plunger and the choke for closing thechoke when the solenoid is energized and means for retarding movement ofthe solenoid under the action of its spring when the solenoid isde-energized so as to delay movement of the choke from a closed to anopen position.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the means forretarding movement of the solenoid when de-energized includes a chamberclosed at one end by a diaphragm, an operating rod connecting thediaphragm to the solenoid plunger, a hydraulic reservoir provided with alarge port into the chamber enabling rapid flow of oil into the chamberwhen the diaphragm is moved when the solenoid is energized, a checkvalve for closing the port for return flow of fluid and a restrictedby-pass passage around the check valve and communicating with the oilreservoir and the chamber for permitting slow return of fluid to thereservoir.